Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly discussing the recent hate crimes. (Photo: nyc.gov)

Mayor Michael Bloomberg spoke out Tuesday following a wave of alleged anti-gay hate crimes that have stirred outrage in neighborhoods across the city.

“New York City has zero tolerance for intolerance," he told reporters at a press conference with Police Commissioner Ray Kelly at police headquarters.

Mr. Kelly said that, over the past 24 hours, police have received reports of two additional bias attacks: At approximately 10:45 p.m. Monday, he said an assailant allegedly "just snapped, became enraged" and began shouting anti-gay expletives and beating a man he's been drinking with near the Bowery Mission. Approximately seven hours later, a couple walking north near Prince Street was also attacked, he said.

The incidents are just the latest in a string of recent attacks--including the shooting death last Friday of a young named Mark Carson in the West Village.

“It was a cold-blooded hate crime that cut short a life full of promise, and brought back awful memories for people who were once afraid to walk down the street with the person that they loved," the mayor said of the killing. “Thankfully, we have come a long way from those days--but the murder of Mark Carson is a tragic reminder of how far we still have to go."

He said the city is "a place that celebrates diversity--a place where people from around the world come to live free of prejudice and persecution. Hate crimes like these are an offense against all we stand for as a city--and we will do everything possible to stop them," he said, urging parents and teachers to "spread tolerance" and asking members of the LGBT community to report any crimes--as the city beefs up patrols.

Mr. Kelly noted that, while hate crimes are down almost 30 percent this year overall, anti-gay crimes have spiked significantly, with 29 attacks so far this year, versus 14 last year.

Mr. Bloomberg vowed to do everything necessary to try to stave off more attacks and warned would-be assailants to be on alert:

“You’re going to wind up in jail for a very long time. Period. We're gonna find you," he said, noting: "Jail’s not a nice place."

He added: “It’s not a good day for New York."

Steve Katz (Photo: NYS Assembly)

Republican Assemblyman Steve Katz is due to appear in court later this month after he was arrested for marijuana possession following a traffic stop on the New York State Thruway yesterday morning. According to the New York State Police, who amusingly spell marijuana with an "H," when Mr. Katz was stopped for speeding the trooper smelled the drug in his car and subsequently found him to be in "possession of a small bag of marihuana."

Mr. Katz was not handcuffed and was immediately released after his arrest, but he is due back in court March 28. Mr. Katz represents parts of Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties. Last year, he mounted a memorable, unsuccessful campaign for the state senate seat occupied by his former friend Greg Ball.

As of this writing, Mr. Katz has not responded to a request to comment on this story. However, his wife Nicole posted an intriguing update on her Facebook page after the news broke this morning.

"I need a vacation!" she wrote.

Update: Mr. Katz released a statement this afternoon acknowledging the situation.

"In light of the unfortunate incident that occurred, I am compelled to address it briefly. First, I will not let this incident impede my public service and my calls for real mandate relief, a better economic climate and better services for those in need in New York," said Mr. Katz. "This should not overshadow the work I have done over the years for the public and my constituency. I am confident that once the facts are presented that this will quickly be put to rest."

“This successful sting operation is sure to be a buzz kill for would-be honey smugglers," Mr. Schumer said. "For too long, foreign smuggling of this product has created a sticky situation for domestic honey producers. We need a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to honey laundering."

Mr. Schumer previously called for officials to do more to combat Chinese honey smuggling in 2010. This bust clearly felt like a sweet victory that left the senator with a pleasant buzz.

Seattle resident displaying a bag of marijuana shortly after a lew legalizing recreational use of the drug took effect in Washington State last month. (Photo: Getty)

While a growing number of states have been legalizing medical and even recreational use of marijuana, the popular plant remains illegal in New York. However, an upcoming pair of new medical marijuana bills in the Legislature and Governor Andrew Cuomo's proposal to decriminalize possession of small amounts of the drug may signal the Empire State is on its way to looser marijuana regulations. 

One of the initiatives Governor Andrew Cuomo outlined in his State of the State address last week was a policy to decriminalize the possession of 15 grams or less or marijuana in public view. Under current laws, possession of 25 grams or less of marijuana generally does not result in jail time as long as it is not openly displayed, but having even small amounts of the drug can result in an  arrest if it is exposed to the public. This "public view" distinction has drawn the ire of critics who argue that, particularly when combined with the NYPD's controversial stop-and-frisk policy, it results in unneeded arrests when people are arrested for displaying marijuana after complying with police officers' requests to reveal the contents of their pockets during searches. Governor Cuomo echoed this argument when he made his case for decriminalization during the State of the State.

"There is a challenge posed by the 'stop-and-frisk' police policies. Roughly 50,000 arrests in New York City for marijuana possession, more than any other possession. Of those 50,000 arrests, 82 percent are black and Hispanic. Of the 82 percent that are black and Hispanic, 69 percent are under the age of 30 years old. These are young, predominately black and Hispanic males," the governor said. "These arrests stigmatize, they criminalize, they create a permanent record. It's not fair. It's not right. It must end. And it must end now. The problem is the disconnect because marijuana on a person is a violation, marijuana in public view is a misdemeanor. There must be parity. Decriminalize the public view with 15 grams or less so there is fairness and parity in the system and we stop stigmatizing these people, making it harder to find a job, making it harder to get into to school, making it harder to turn their lives around at a very young age."

This isn't the first time Governor Cuomo has made a marijuana decriminalization proposal. Last summer, the governor supported a plan to decriminalize possession of up to 25 grams in the public view, though the measure was supported by the Democratic majority in the Assembly it was blocked by the G.O.P.-controlled Senate.

"Being able to walk around with 10 joints in each ear and it only being a violation, that is wrong," former Republican Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos infamously quipped.

Though the senate Republicans opposed decriminalization of 25 grams or less, Mr. Skelos said he would be open to a reduced version of the proposal that would only apply to those who openly possessed marijuana as a result of a police stop. After the governor scaled back his proposal to 15 grams, Politicker reached out to Mr. Skelos' office to see if this compromise would be sufficient. As of this writing, he has not responded to multiple requests for comment on the issue.

Whether or not the Legislature backs the governor's possession decriminalization push, there are lawmakers pushing to change the state's laws regarding medical use of marijuana. Last year, when Governor Cuomo made his initial decriminalization proposal, the Republican majority ruled over the State Senate. Now, leadership is shared between the G.O.P. and the Independent Democratic Conference. Senator Diane Savino, one of the members of the I.D.C., told Politicker she isn't sure where the Senate Republicans stand on the governor's new, scaled down  decriminalization proposal, but she said she is currently drafting a medical marijuana bill.

"He's going to have to sell that," Ms. Savino said of Governor Cuomo's proposal. "It's not what I'm focused on, I'm focused on medical marijuana."

Ms. Savino believes she has secured enough votes for her medical marijuana bill to pass in the Senate. Democratic Assemblyman Richard Gottfried is drafting similar legislation in the Assembly, which is controlled by his party. His office said he also believes he has enough votes to pass his medical marijuana bill. Along with the push from legislators, medical marijuana advocates have enlisted the lobbying firm Patricia Lynch Associates, which is headed by Pat Lynch, a former top advisor to powerful Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

Despite the governor's backing of the marijuana decriminalization proposal and the support from lawmakers and top lobbyists, it is unclear whether Governor Cuomo is behind the medical marijuana bills. Ms. Savino said she hopes to be able to get his backing.

"The governor's been cautious in his comments," she explained. "He's not there yet. It's not an issue that he's focused on and I'm sure he has a lot of questions."

Politicker reached out to the governor's office to see whether he supported the proposed medical marijuana legislation. As of this writing, they have not responded to multiple requests for comment.

(Photo: Facebook)

Councilman Larry Seabrook, who was convicted last July on 9 counts of wire and fraud charges, was sentenced in federal court today to 5 years in prison. Upon his conviction, Mr. Seabrook was immediately expelled from the legislative chamber.

"Councilman Larry Seabrook sacrificed the public trust on the altar of greed," U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said in a statement. "He was a flagrant and serial abuser of City Council discretionary funds in a far too familiar New York tale of corruption," Mr. Bharara said of Mr. Seabrook. "Today’s sentence finally vindicates the interests of the constituents whose trust he so casually violated by his fraud. We remain committed to making those who are corrupted by power pay the price, and the public can expect more arrests of politicians who have not learned this lesson.”

The evidence against Mr. Seabrook infamously included a receipt for a $7 bagel sandwich that prosecutors said had been doctored to put the cost at $177, enabling him to earn a profit off of the reimbursement.

Additionally, Mr. Seabrook was ordered to pay more than $619,000 in restitution to New York City and to forfeit another $418, 000. He was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment fee.

View the full sentencing statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Southern District of New York below:

Morgan Gliedman (Photo: Facebook)

Occupy Wall Street doesn't want to be associated with the young West Village couple who were allegedly busted over the weekend with a houseful of explosives, weapons and a bomb-making guide. Morgan Gliedman, 27, and Aaron Greene, 31, were arrested Saturday after police reportedly found seven grams of highly explosive HMTD powder, a flare launcher, a shotgun, ammo, rifle magazines and instructions on making bombs, including a printout entitled "The Terrorist Encyclopedia," at their home. An early report from the New York Post identified Mr. Greene as an "Occupy Wall Street activist," but this afternoon the movement's public relations arm said there is no evidence to support links between Mr. Greene and Occupy.

"There is nothing in the news stories to support a link between OWS and the individual arrested; his name is unfamiliar to many OWS activists," the statement posted on the Occupy Wall Street Press Relations Working Group page said. "A very large number of people came through Zuccotti Park, and there are countless Occupy-related groups nationwide, so it is very difficult to ascertain if one person participated in anything related to OWS."

The Occupy Wall Street statement on the arrest of the young bombers described attempts to link the movement to the incident as part of an ongoing police smear campaign.

"Since its beginnings in September 2011, Occupy Wall Street has vigorously used its Constitutional rights to protest Wall Street greed, and is firmly committed to non-violence," said the statement. "Nonetheless, Occupy has been subjected to extensive surveillance and repression, and the NYPD takes every opportunity to link OWS to crime."

Back in July, Occupy Wall Street was publicly linked to a 2004 murder case after unnamed sources said DNA from the scene of the brutal killing of Juilliard student Sarah Fox matched a chain protesters used to hold open the entrance of a subway station to give free rides. The link was soon chalked up to a "laboratory error."

According to the Post, Mr. Greene was also a Harvard alum who also did graduate work at the university's Kennedy School of Government. Mr. Greene reportedly had "five prior run-ins with the police" on charges including assault and weapons possession.

Despite Mr. Greene's troubles with the law cops reportedly arrived at the couple's West Ninth Street home because Ms. Gliedman was wanted for credit card theft. The house is just two blocks from the street where three young activists affiliated with the Weathermen died in 1970 when a bomb exploded in their makeshift townhouse lab.

Politicker hasn't found any public materials linking either Mr. Greene or Ms. Gliebman to Occupy Wall Street. As of this writing, the NYPD has not responded to a request for comment about the couple's connection to the group.

More is known about the background of Ms. Gliedman, who is reportedly nine months pregnant, than the history of her male companion. Her father is Dr. Paul Gliedman, the director of radiation oncology at the Brooklyn Division of Beth Israel Hospital, and her mother is a real estate agent, Susyn Schops Gliedman. Ms. Gliedman graduated from Dalton in 2002. According to a Facebook page for "Morgan Gliedman" that was recently deleted, she went on to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. A "Morgan Rose Gliedman" wrote for a monthly journal at that school, F Newsmagazine, in 2009. That January, she penned a piece for the paper with tips for "enjoying life as a starving artist."

Governor Andrew Cuomo (Getty)

"All of our thoughts and prayers go to the families and friends of those who were killed in this senseless act of violence," said Governor Cuomo. "New York's first responders are true heroes as they time and again selflessly rush toward danger in order to keep our families and communities safe. Volunteer firefighters and police officers were injured and two were taken from us as they once again answered the call of duty. We as the community of New York mourn their loss as now two more families must spend the holidays without their loved ones."

Though initial reports said the shooting occurred at a burning home near the shore of Lake Ontario at about six this morning, Governor Cuomo's statement described the incident as occurring at the scene of a "car fire." Originally, Webster Police Chief Gerald Pickering said he believed "one or more shooters were involved.

Update (12:12 p.m.): Mr. Pickering told reporters the "threat has been eliminated" and "the shooter is believed to be deceased at the scene." He also described the fire as a trap set by the killer.

Christine Quinn (Photo: Getty)

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, there have been mounting reports and rumors of people taking advantage of the chaos and power outages created by the storm to loot abandoned buildings. City Council Speaker Christine Quinn wants these criminals to face exceptionally harsh punishment. Politicker saw Ms. Quinn in Coney Island today as she spoke to reporters after surveying the damage. Ms. Quinn said people need to "do the right thing" and should face very tough consequences if they don't.

"They really shouldn't prey on their neighbors in these worst of times and anyone who is caught looting during this storm should have the book thrown at them in a way that is extreme," Ms. Quinn said.

Ms. Quinn went on to detail the specific penalties she thinks looters should suffer.

"I would quite frankly say, you know, don't even give them bail. Make them sit inside until the storm is totally gone and the power is over. That'll teach you a lesson the next time the power goes out, because this is serious."

Preet Bharara and Mayor Blooomberg

This morning, Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District, announced multiple charges relating to an alleged campaign finance scheme against Albert Baldeo, a Democratic district leader in Queens. Mr. Baldeo, who surrendered to law enforcement this morning, is being accused of using a system of "straw donors" to fill his campaign coffers for his unsuccessful 2010 City Council campaign with "funds drawn from his own bank account disguised as donations from others." He is also being charged with obstruction of justice for allegedly telling instructing the straw donors to give false information and say the donations were made with their money when FBI agents began investigating his campaign finances. In a statement accompanying the announcement, Mr. Bharara characterized the charges against Mr. Baldeo as proof his office will be continue to be aggressive in pursuing corruption investigations, something which he has earned a reputation for since being sworn in as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District in 2009.

"As alleged, Queens District Leader Albert Baldeo was so focused on securing a position with the New York City Council that he was willing to break the law to increase his chances–including engaging in a scheme to circumvent campaign finance laws by funneling his own money through straw donors. Baldeo even allegedly used fear and intimidation to prevent others from exposing his conduct," Mr. Bharara said. "As today’s charges demonstrate, we will not sit idly by and allow candidates for elected office to corrupt the electoral process or the administration of justice.”

The criminal complaint against Mr. Baldeo accusing him of engaging in the straw donor campaign to obtain matching funds from the city. In spite of his allegedly illegal funds, Mr. Baldeo ended up losing the crowded 2010 Council race to Ruben Wills. Authorities reportedly began investigating his campaign finances before the election was even over.

View the complaint against Mr. Baldeo below.

baldeo complaint
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Michael Grimm (Photo: Facebook)

Over the weekend, cement bricks were thrown through the windows of Congressman Michael Grimm's campaign headquarters on Staten Island in an attack Mr. Grimm initially said he believed the attack was "politically motivated" and that it also left computers in the office with mysteriously erased hard drives. Today, an eighth grader confessed to smashing the windows with a friend, leading Mr. Grimm to admit "it is possible that a volunteer could have inadvertently compromised the computer and failed to report it."

However, in spite of a New York Times report published Monday that cited an unnamed "law enforcement official" as saying, "police experts had examined the campaign’s computer systems and concluded that nothing had been erased or tampered with," a spokesman for the NYPD said the investigation into the situation with Mr. Grimm's computers is just beginning.

"Contrary to the 'law enforcement official's' purported claims in the NY Times, NYPD computer crimes detectives had only just begun this morning looking at images taken from Grimm computers," NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Public Information Paul Browne wrote in an email to Politicker this evening.

Mr. Browne added that "no determination had been made as whether there was tampering" and "none was likely to be made until much later today or tomorrow because the process is time consuming."

In his statement following the eighth grader's confession, Mr. Grimm, who has faced a steady stream of negative headlines in the past few months due to an FBI probe into his 2010 fundraising operation, criticized the media for its handling of the case.

“What is most troubling about this series of events is the shameless media spin and speculation fueled by unscrupulous sources,” Mr. Grimm said. “This is no more than another blatant attempt by the liberal media to generate more bogus allegations against me and continue their ongoing smear campaign.”